Former Christchurch Mayor and quake response veteran Bob Parker has been dangled over the city of Wellington today in order to provide a much-needed illusion of comfort to those still feeling stress as a result of ongoing aftershocks.
Parker was widely praised in 2010 and 2011 for his composed and compassionate television presence following the two major earthquakes in Christchurch, of which he was then the mayor.
When asked if he would consent to being used to raise the spirits of Wellingtonians, Parker did not hesitate.
“Not for a moment,” he told media this morning as he was being tied to a helicopter cable. “It’s times like these when we all have to come together, put aside what we’re doing, and fulfil our civic responsibility to hang from a moving aircraft and spout vague platitudes that provide people with the illusion they’re safe and that something is being done.”
Wellington mayor Justin Lester said he was “thrilled” Parker had agreed to his request for the former This is Your Life host to occupy the skies over the capital.
Starting at 10am this morning, Parker was flown back and forth across the city, in view of tens of thousands.
“This is a terrible thing that’s happened,” Parker said to onlookers as he hung hundreds of metres above them. “If you’re feeling upset or unsure, tell someone, talk to someone, let them be there for you. And do the same for others; go door to door, check on your friends, your neighbours, and together, I promise you we’ll come through this.”
Many workers in downtown Wellington said they were “put at ease” by Parker circling overhead.
“I was walking down Lambton Quay this morning, feeling, I think as we all do at the moment, a little on edge,” said Sinead Ogilvie. “Then I look up, and there’s Bob Parker, just hanging there, giving some speech about where to get chemical toilets, and numbers I can call if I’m just feeling stressed out.
“It was quite nice, actually. Made me feel heaps better.”
Not all went to plan, however. Heavy winds and rain caused Parker to be occasionally blown into tall buildings, where he smashed windows and suffered extensive injuries.
“I was just sitting in my office on the 10th floor,” said Sebastian Ponting, who works in the Baileys Building on Brandon Street. “All of a sudden, there’s this almighty crash, and Bob Parker tumbles into our office. He just said ‘Check on your friends, your neighbours,’ before he was hauled back out over the street. Now the whole office is cold.”
Winds became so heavy at one point that Parker was apparently blown free of his harness, and is now missing.
He was scheduled to be dangled over the heavily-hit town of Kaikoura tomorrow, but the District Council there says that is now contingent on whether or not he is found.